I am nearing the last month of my yoga teacher training and can very much say it has been a life changing experience, which is so big I am still processing and can’t even begin to fully articulate. Like being the first woman in my family to get a college degree, I find myself having gone through such a complete transformation that I am a bit between worlds–my old self and new self trying to figure out the best life structure to accommodate the latest iteration of my genuine self. More on that later…

One of the practices I’ve happily built up is more awareness about nearly every damn thing. I’m so aware I feel like I can hear a squirrel crack a nut in Africa. Ultimately this awareness is going to take me some pretty amazing new places. For now I sort of feel like Spiderman when he first experiences his spidey senses. I’ll just be walking along or driving and then suddenly see every individual blade of grass glittering in the sun like a trillion diamonds. I’ll be going about my business and become struck by the most beautiful things I have ever seen–because I’ve never really truly seen them before. It’s pretty insane and I know I am so a rookie at this still…

One of the major themes of my practice has been acceptance. I spent much of my life fighting all kinds of things. I was feisty, and had to be to survive and surpass my life circumstances. So, it served me well for a time. Now that time is over and it serves me better to be more accepting, less judgmental, kind, grateful and even sentimental. So, mindfulness and meditation as part of that, are a tool on my path towards better understanding of this life.

This is very long backstory to share that I will post a monthly mindfulness topic–just sharing what I’m thinking about and noticing in the world or myself.

So with the January trend of being resolutionary, and the February reality that only 8% of people actually follow through on those resolutions, I got to thinking. I have a lot of experience with the science of goal setting and the reality is, when we focus on what’s missing, or what’s wrong, we rarely achieve anything but disappointment. I decided that, following my theme of true acceptance, I would create goals that focus on how I will leverage a strength to achieve anything I want throughout the year.

In other words, whatever your goals and dreams, there is something that you already have or do that will help you in getting to that new milestone. You would not even think to set the goals you have if you did not already have some sort of connection to it. So why not leverage what you already have to take it where you want! Accept that you are not starting from ground zero!

You’ve already got it all baby!

Here’s a sample:

Resolution: Stop watching so much T.V.

If your goal is a scold, your anxiety about this is now going to make you want t.v. even more probably–or at least that’s what happens to me.

Nicer: Leverage my curious nature to take some classes and read more books.

You don’t even have to give attention to the thing you don’t want to do (t.v.). You can just nourish your naturally curious self and the goal will unfold.

I’m just personally a fan of wanting my goals to feel good, and I know the more I focus on what I have, rather than what I don’t, the more I can break free from my fears and anxieties and downer stories.

So what strengths or qualities do you already have that are going to help you live the life you want in this beautiful year of 2015? I bet there’s a lot once you get to thinking about it…

actual phrases spoken to me (or my husband) by my children

Twinkle twinkle little Ellie. I'm a diamond!
Is a tampon like a coupon?
How floppy is your tummy?
I can't wait for my nipples to get bigger and bigger.
The secret ingredient is penis.
You're a cream of wheat.
I'm gonna break my heart for a minute and then give you some.
If I go to jail I'll be sad and cry all day long.
I'm a wild animal.
Red lights are making me craziness.
You guys are the baddest parents ever. (Note: She does not mean Michael Jackson "Bad.")
I'm a filthy monkey.
Make sure you downloaded a rainbow of unicorns.
I want to be an Elf so I can live with Santa.
I like boobs. They're interesting.
I'm playing a game that's too scary for you: it's called dead orphan.
Just look at all the rainbow colors if you want to be happy.
Everyone thinks I'm a teenager since I'm in my booster seat.
Mama, your body is warm and cozy.
[Referring to her ham] Is this real life?
Do you know why my hand is in my butt?
Can I pick something from her [sister's] nose?
Can I fart on my sister?
[On breastfeeding] Your boobs are chubby!
My brain is always on the naughty list.
Mama, you're a genius!
[In response to "what do you want to eat?"] I want to eat something beautiful that I like.
Alex Trevec is so handsome.
That pizza is wild!
America is a jambalaya.
Isn't pooping fun?
[About fireworks] They're magic! They're humongous!
I want to be a grown up. [Why?] So I can get married. [Who do you want to marry?] Myself.
Where's my whiskey?
I am really good at [computer] buttons. And also driving.
Daddy your peanut is yucky! (note: not referring to an actual peanut)
We are girls. ha ha!
It smells like poison!
You are beautiful
If I drink my juice slower, I will have an alien in my tummy.
I just fidget all day long.
Don't recipe me.
You are hurting my life.
Don't touch me. It's my life.
I am not your puppet.
The sky is falling.
I need my chapstick so I can drive better.
Close my window so the monkeys don't get me.
You're my best friend.
I want a baby sister.
I have a baby in my belly.
The monster is eating a taco.
I am freaking out.
[With diaper on head] "Cock-a-Doodle-Doo"
My poop is stuck in my butt.